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A Week in Paris
1961: Born on the day that WW2 broke out, 21-year-old Fay Knox cannot remember her early childhood in London, before she moved to a Norfolk village with her mother, Kitty. Though she has seen a photograph of her father, she does not recall him either. He died, she was told, in an air raid, and their house destroyed along with all their possessions. Why then, on a visit to Paris on tour with her orchestra, does a strange series of events suggest that she spent the war there instead? There is only one clue to follow, an address on the luggage label of an old canvas satchel. But will the truth hurt or heal?
1937: Eugene Knox, a young American doctor, catches sight of 19-year-old Kitty Travers on the day she arrives in Paris, and cannot get her out of his mind. She has come to study the piano at the famed Conservatoire, and lodges at a convent near Notre Dame. Eugene and Kitty will fall in love, marry and have a daughter, but France's humiliating defeat by Germany is not far behind, and the little family must suffer life under Nazi occupation. Some Parisians keep their heads down and survive, others collaborate with the enemy while others resist. The different actions of Eugene, Kitty and their friends will have devastating consequences that echo down the generations.
1937: Eugene Knox, a young American doctor, catches sight of 19-year-old Kitty Travers on the day she arrives in Paris, and cannot get her out of his mind. She has come to study the piano at the famed Conservatoire, and lodges at a convent near Notre Dame. Eugene and Kitty will fall in love, marry and have a daughter, but France's humiliating defeat by Germany is not far behind, and the little family must suffer life under Nazi occupation. Some Parisians keep their heads down and survive, others collaborate with the enemy while others resist. The different actions of Eugene, Kitty and their friends will have devastating consequences that echo down the generations.
470 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2014
160 people are currently reading
3177 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hore
38 books748 followersRachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, Norfolk and turning to writing fiction.
Rachel is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dream House (2006), The Memory Garden (2007), The Glass Painter's Daughter (2009), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Novel of the Year 2010, A Place of Secrets (2010), which was a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick, and A Gathering Storm (2011), which was shortlisted for the RNA Historical Novel of the year, 2012. The Silent Tide was published in 2013, A Week in Paris in 2014 and The House on Bellevue Gardens in 2015.
Her new novel, Last Letter Home, will be published on 22nd March 2018.
Rachel is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dream House (2006), The Memory Garden (2007), The Glass Painter's Daughter (2009), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Novel of the Year 2010, A Place of Secrets (2010), which was a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick, and A Gathering Storm (2011), which was shortlisted for the RNA Historical Novel of the year, 2012. The Silent Tide was published in 2013, A Week in Paris in 2014 and The House on Bellevue Gardens in 2015.
Her new novel, Last Letter Home, will be published on 22nd March 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
November 4, 2014
Having looked at other reviews on Goodreads of Rachel Hore's 'A Week In Paris' it appears that most readers are female. I trust that I am not alone as a male reader because I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling story, set in the years between 1937 and 1961 and located mainly in Paris, a city I love and know so many of the places featured, although in these pages darkened by the Nazi Occupation during the 2nd World War. A well developed plot, comprehensively researched, with wonderful characterisation, had me hooked. A heartwarming tale of war, secrets, family and enduring love. Yes, I loved it.
April 24, 2022
In 2011, my younger sister decided to try out for a basketball team in Germany. When my older sister and I found out that she was going to Europe, we decided to go with her. And add a trip to Paris because, why not? I'd never wanted to go to Paris. Not that I didn't want to go, but my dream trip was to Italy, and I'd already been there. Paris was a surprising suggestion, but if someone asks you if you want to go to Paris, don't say no. I didn't, of course, and my sisters and I went to Germany then took the train to Paris.
Paris is our place now. We went back in 2012 and solidified that fact. It's a magical place, my favorite city in the whole world. I haven't been to many, but of the few I've visited, none has claimed my heart the way Paris has. Honestly, in writing this (and then, in proofreading it!), tears are in my eyes because I miss it so much. I have the feeling that the connection to my sisters is a huge part of what makes this city so special to me.
When my sister found a copy of this book at a thrift store, she bought it and told me about it. She wanted me to read it with her. I've done a few buddy reads, but they're not really my thing. After all, I studied English in college and am still happy not to be told what to read 7 years after finishing grad school. But when she came up from Florida for our younger sister's wedding, she handed me my own copy of this book, and I thought, once again, "Why not?"
I read this book and fell in love all over again, this time not with the city but with the characters, the story, the history, the pain, the joy. My sister asked me to read slowly because she does and didn't want me to finish too far ahead of her. I told her I couldn't promise that! But I did try, and that's why it took me a little long to finish. There were times when I'd be reading, though, and get so into the story that I couldn't put the book down. My sister is still reading it, but I know I'll remember what happened and be able to talk to her about it when she's done.
It's a beautiful story, almost as beautiful and impressing as the city itself. I felt for Fay as she realized that she didn't know the truth about her past. I felt for Kitty as I read her story and understood why she kept the truth from her daughter. There are subplots that have just as much depth and feeling as the main plot points do. I loved visiting Paris again through this book, and I loved meeting and getting to know these characters. I really enjoyed reading about World War II in Paris because, in the States, we learn about Pearl Harbor, Japan, and us saving the day. We don't learn too much about how the war affected other countries. Even reading books about the Holocaust, I learned more about Eastern Europe and obviously the concentration camps and ghettos. This book reminded me more of the movie Casablanca in that it shows the experiences of average, middle-class Europeans and how they were affected and involved. I also learned more about Vichy France and the relationship between France and Algeria, which we don't learn anything about in the States. I loved learning, being reminded of a place I love, and reading a moving story. I cried several times, especially in finishing this book.
I highly recommend this story to people who love historical fiction, romance, mother-daughter stories, and Paris. You won't be disappointed.
Paris is our place now. We went back in 2012 and solidified that fact. It's a magical place, my favorite city in the whole world. I haven't been to many, but of the few I've visited, none has claimed my heart the way Paris has. Honestly, in writing this (and then, in proofreading it!), tears are in my eyes because I miss it so much. I have the feeling that the connection to my sisters is a huge part of what makes this city so special to me.
When my sister found a copy of this book at a thrift store, she bought it and told me about it. She wanted me to read it with her. I've done a few buddy reads, but they're not really my thing. After all, I studied English in college and am still happy not to be told what to read 7 years after finishing grad school. But when she came up from Florida for our younger sister's wedding, she handed me my own copy of this book, and I thought, once again, "Why not?"
I read this book and fell in love all over again, this time not with the city but with the characters, the story, the history, the pain, the joy. My sister asked me to read slowly because she does and didn't want me to finish too far ahead of her. I told her I couldn't promise that! But I did try, and that's why it took me a little long to finish. There were times when I'd be reading, though, and get so into the story that I couldn't put the book down. My sister is still reading it, but I know I'll remember what happened and be able to talk to her about it when she's done.
It's a beautiful story, almost as beautiful and impressing as the city itself. I felt for Fay as she realized that she didn't know the truth about her past. I felt for Kitty as I read her story and understood why she kept the truth from her daughter. There are subplots that have just as much depth and feeling as the main plot points do. I loved visiting Paris again through this book, and I loved meeting and getting to know these characters. I really enjoyed reading about World War II in Paris because, in the States, we learn about Pearl Harbor, Japan, and us saving the day. We don't learn too much about how the war affected other countries. Even reading books about the Holocaust, I learned more about Eastern Europe and obviously the concentration camps and ghettos. This book reminded me more of the movie Casablanca in that it shows the experiences of average, middle-class Europeans and how they were affected and involved. I also learned more about Vichy France and the relationship between France and Algeria, which we don't learn anything about in the States. I loved learning, being reminded of a place I love, and reading a moving story. I cried several times, especially in finishing this book.
I highly recommend this story to people who love historical fiction, romance, mother-daughter stories, and Paris. You won't be disappointed.
December 12, 2014
So much more could have been made of this story. The writing was flat and pedestrian, barely scratching the surface of the likely emotion the characters would have felt in these tragic circumstances. I felt I was reading the offering of an A level student, yet to embark on the business of life and learning what it is to truly feel. So many times I almost gave up on it. Finally, once France was occupied, some tension entered the story and I carried on. I have not come across this author before and it is unlikely I will read her again. It is fitting that Judy Finnigan wrote the review on the front cover.
October 31, 2016
I finished this book yesterday and I wish for another similar to it. It's one of my favorite types of fiction with two historical periods with an object or person connecting the two storylines. In this book by Rachel Hore, I got exactly what I wanted to read. We have a character, Fay Knox, searching for her past during WWII in France. She's offered a chance to travel to Paris for a one week stay. Her mother, Kitty, has been silent about Fay's childhood and she wants to discover why that is.
The story is full of historical notes and feels so real that I felt like I was in Paris with Fay. It was a great read that I will not soon forget.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story is full of historical notes and feels so real that I felt like I was in Paris with Fay. It was a great read that I will not soon forget.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 30, 2016
* I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of a honest review*
Well, firstly, I would like to start with a fact, that I love reading stories related with WWI or WWII. So I was eager to start reading this book. However I wasn't impressed with a writing style, because I had to force myself to read it and honestly, I felt bored most of the time and it took me ages to finish this book.
Secondly the characters were flat and boring. There were almost nothing that made me care about what will happen to them. Maybe, it was because author chose to tell what they felt instead of showing.
Of course, I can't say that it was utterly impossible to read. There were several parts, that I really enjoyed, but that wasn't enough to give a bigger rating.
Maybe it just wasn't for me so you should give it a try if you like historical fiction.
Well, firstly, I would like to start with a fact, that I love reading stories related with WWI or WWII. So I was eager to start reading this book. However I wasn't impressed with a writing style, because I had to force myself to read it and honestly, I felt bored most of the time and it took me ages to finish this book.
Secondly the characters were flat and boring. There were almost nothing that made me care about what will happen to them. Maybe, it was because author chose to tell what they felt instead of showing.
Of course, I can't say that it was utterly impossible to read. There were several parts, that I really enjoyed, but that wasn't enough to give a bigger rating.
Maybe it just wasn't for me so you should give it a try if you like historical fiction.
December 11, 2022
2022 || 89 📖
4,5 ⭐
Tai - jaudinanti ir jautri knyga apie karo sugriautą meilę ir paslaptį, kuri jungia dvi, motinos ir dukters, istorijas ❤️
Veiksmas pasakojamas dviem laikotarpiais. 1937-aisiais, kai jauna pianistė Kitė atvyksta į Paryžių, sutinka savo gyvenimo meilę bei atranda laimę, kurią sugriauna karas. O antroji istorija - Fei. Tai - Kitės dukra, kuri, su orkestru nuvykusi į Paryžių, ten jaučiasi kaip namuose, nors niekada ten nesilankė. Po keleto metų ji vėl keliauja atgal ir tikisi išsiaiškinti tai, ką motina nuo jos taip kruopščiai slepia...
Labai patiko! Iš pradžių skaitėsi sunkiai, buvo net nuobodu. Tačiau kuo toliau, tuo labiau įsitraukiau į istoriją ir darėsi tik įdomiau. O antrąją knygos pusę perskaičiau vos ne vienu prisėdimu ir beveik nekvėpuodama: taip knietėjo išsiaiškinti, kaip čia viskas išsispręs 🙈 Likau tikrai maloniai nustebinta, nes, prieš imdama skaityti šią knygą, tikėjausi visai kitokios istorijos.
Labai rekomenduoju mėgstantiems istorijas, kurios kupinos paslapčių, alsuoja Paryžiaus dvasia bei paliečia skaudžius karo veiksmų padarinius ✨️
4,5 ⭐
Tai - jaudinanti ir jautri knyga apie karo sugriautą meilę ir paslaptį, kuri jungia dvi, motinos ir dukters, istorijas ❤️
Veiksmas pasakojamas dviem laikotarpiais. 1937-aisiais, kai jauna pianistė Kitė atvyksta į Paryžių, sutinka savo gyvenimo meilę bei atranda laimę, kurią sugriauna karas. O antroji istorija - Fei. Tai - Kitės dukra, kuri, su orkestru nuvykusi į Paryžių, ten jaučiasi kaip namuose, nors niekada ten nesilankė. Po keleto metų ji vėl keliauja atgal ir tikisi išsiaiškinti tai, ką motina nuo jos taip kruopščiai slepia...
Labai patiko! Iš pradžių skaitėsi sunkiai, buvo net nuobodu. Tačiau kuo toliau, tuo labiau įsitraukiau į istoriją ir darėsi tik įdomiau. O antrąją knygos pusę perskaičiau vos ne vienu prisėdimu ir beveik nekvėpuodama: taip knietėjo išsiaiškinti, kaip čia viskas išsispręs 🙈 Likau tikrai maloniai nustebinta, nes, prieš imdama skaityti šią knygą, tikėjausi visai kitokios istorijos.
Labai rekomenduoju mėgstantiems istorijas, kurios kupinos paslapčių, alsuoja Paryžiaus dvasia bei paliečia skaudžius karo veiksmų padarinius ✨️
July 16, 2016
" A Week in Paris" is a dual storyline tale switching between Paris in the 30's and 40's and Paris in the 1960's. Reminiscent of books like Those Who Save Us and 22 Britannia Road, a mother and her child are at the heart of this story. A talented musician, Fay Knox is intrigued by family secrets her mother, Kitty, doesn't want to talk about. While in Paris she decides to reconnect with people that knew her family during the war. But is Fay ready to face what her mother has tried so desperately to bury?
While this wasn't my favorite WWII era book, I did feel that the author had a good grasp on drawing me in and exposing the heart wrenching choices that so many wives and mothers were forced to make during the time period. I found the love story of Kitty and Gene absolutely wonderful and it is no surprise that Fay and Adam failed to delight me at all.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
While this wasn't my favorite WWII era book, I did feel that the author had a good grasp on drawing me in and exposing the heart wrenching choices that so many wives and mothers were forced to make during the time period. I found the love story of Kitty and Gene absolutely wonderful and it is no surprise that Fay and Adam failed to delight me at all.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
October 8, 2014
Full booktrail with locations posted on link: Booktrail to Paris
The streets of Paris hide a dark past. This is an historical walk through the streets of the city of light that we booktrailers thought we knew. There is so much history carved into every stone, monument and church that we hadn't realised.
This is a multilayered Paris that is both fascinating and heartbreaking to explore. The changes from a city of light and innocence to one of fear and suspicion is deftly handled and the people so real that you can feel their concerns and see the worry on their faces.
The innocence and impending doom of 1930s Paris is captured so well by Rachel as is the city of the 1960s when Fay comes to unravel the past. Notre Dame, the Champs Elysees and the famous cafe of artists Les Deux Magots is mentioned when Fay has a drink there with a friend.
The role Paris played in the occupation – what it meant to live in fear, to be Jewish and to try and live under the German radar is poignantly explored. The places of internment in the city and the transportation of people from the the city’s train stations. People were also taken out to Vittel in North Eastern France.
Another historical event – that of the Algerian conflict which came to a head in 1961 is also explored. A plaque in memory of those Algerians killed during the peaceful protests of that year can be found on the Pont St Michel.
There are few books which intrigue me and move me so much as this one did. I had read little of the history of the occupation and of the Algerian war but I now feel that I have been at the side of those who lived through it. There is one moment that I actually stopped as once I realised what had happened – how events so innocent in nature can have such horrific consequences during war time, then the tears came. This is no overreaction. This is not the only moment – there is another one which changes the course of the story for one of the characters but no spoilers here – you have to discover this for yourself to realise the shock and twists that must have been the norm for these people.
Rachel Hore has brought Paris to life during this time and I’m not sure if its because its in a city I know and love so well, but I felt as if I was going back to see and experience its history.
the horror of war on the battle fields is raw enough but its always the effects of war on the innocent people just trying to get on with their lives that affects me the most. For Fay to discover what she did – I just don’t know what that would feel like.
The dual time line works very well as I felt I was sitting by the fire with Fay and Mme Ramond as they talked about the past. And then it was as if a mist covered the page and I was back in 1937..
The theme of friendship is strong in Kitty’s story and the bond of friendship under such hard times must have been imperative. The decision she and other people made in the moment has repercussions on the future and this is what Fay myst now deal with. Hers is not the story she thought it was.
The novel makes you think - what would you have done? What do you think you would have done?
The streets of Paris hide a dark past. This is an historical walk through the streets of the city of light that we booktrailers thought we knew. There is so much history carved into every stone, monument and church that we hadn't realised.
This is a multilayered Paris that is both fascinating and heartbreaking to explore. The changes from a city of light and innocence to one of fear and suspicion is deftly handled and the people so real that you can feel their concerns and see the worry on their faces.
The innocence and impending doom of 1930s Paris is captured so well by Rachel as is the city of the 1960s when Fay comes to unravel the past. Notre Dame, the Champs Elysees and the famous cafe of artists Les Deux Magots is mentioned when Fay has a drink there with a friend.
The role Paris played in the occupation – what it meant to live in fear, to be Jewish and to try and live under the German radar is poignantly explored. The places of internment in the city and the transportation of people from the the city’s train stations. People were also taken out to Vittel in North Eastern France.
Another historical event – that of the Algerian conflict which came to a head in 1961 is also explored. A plaque in memory of those Algerians killed during the peaceful protests of that year can be found on the Pont St Michel.
There are few books which intrigue me and move me so much as this one did. I had read little of the history of the occupation and of the Algerian war but I now feel that I have been at the side of those who lived through it. There is one moment that I actually stopped as once I realised what had happened – how events so innocent in nature can have such horrific consequences during war time, then the tears came. This is no overreaction. This is not the only moment – there is another one which changes the course of the story for one of the characters but no spoilers here – you have to discover this for yourself to realise the shock and twists that must have been the norm for these people.
Rachel Hore has brought Paris to life during this time and I’m not sure if its because its in a city I know and love so well, but I felt as if I was going back to see and experience its history.
the horror of war on the battle fields is raw enough but its always the effects of war on the innocent people just trying to get on with their lives that affects me the most. For Fay to discover what she did – I just don’t know what that would feel like.
The dual time line works very well as I felt I was sitting by the fire with Fay and Mme Ramond as they talked about the past. And then it was as if a mist covered the page and I was back in 1937..
The theme of friendship is strong in Kitty’s story and the bond of friendship under such hard times must have been imperative. The decision she and other people made in the moment has repercussions on the future and this is what Fay myst now deal with. Hers is not the story she thought it was.
The novel makes you think - what would you have done? What do you think you would have done?
October 31, 2014
This is the tale of Fay, who on a working trip to Paris uncovers the secrets of her mother's wartime past in the City of Light. Told in a tried and tested formula - we move between Fay in the 1960s and her mother, Kitty, in war-torn Paris - we have the usual cast of characters. Eugene, Kitty's husband and Fay's father, brave member of the resistance. Sister Marie-Francois, head of the convent in Paris in which Kitty stays when she first arrives - a convent which, predictably, plays a larger part as we move through the war years. Serge Ramon, tragic, taciturn and hugely talented pianist. Nathalie Ramon, who relates the tale to Fay (small but obvious twist with this character) ... need I go on? There's also an effort to draw some parallels between the past and Fay's present: the treatment of Algerians in post-colonial France and also Fay's love interest - clearly intended to echo her mother's experiences twenty years earlier. Neither are very persuasive or engaging.
In terms of plot there were one or two leaps of faith which I found hard to stomach. Why would the current occupants of Eugene and Kitty's former home in Paris have hung on to a letter for Kitty, delivered 16 years earlier? Even less likely that it might be found at a moments notice I think! It was a clumsy device to tie-up a loose end. Do we really believe that Fay might telephone the hospital to which her mother is temporarily confined, get straight through to her doctor, leave a message, have that message delivered and then receive a letter from her mother concerning said message - all within the space of 3 days!? No we don't.
So, what did I think of it? Well it was an okay read, but it is a rare writer indeed that manages to combine true and strong story-telling skills with excellent use of prose - and I fear Ms Hore is not a rare writer. It isn't that it's bad - it's just not good. The story has been told so many times before, and whilst it's a story that bears repeating, there were too many occasions when it felt derivative, though I couldn't quite put my finger on where I'd read it before. Her writing style is also okay - but, again, not great. The words don't flow - and neither the story nor the prose invited me to 'carry on, carry on, carry on ... must find out what happens next'.
I chose this book because I wanted a light, easy read. I knew nothing about the novel or the author, it had received some good notices and seemed to fit the bill. To be fair, it did. It is light, it is easy, but it didn't inspire me to explore Ms Hore's -back catalogue - surely one of the best tests?
Once again this was an occasion when I longed for a more sensitive star rating - when will Goodreads do something about this? It seems churlish to give it two stars - and over generous to give it three - in an ideal world it would be 2.75.
In terms of plot there were one or two leaps of faith which I found hard to stomach. Why would the current occupants of Eugene and Kitty's former home in Paris have hung on to a letter for Kitty, delivered 16 years earlier? Even less likely that it might be found at a moments notice I think! It was a clumsy device to tie-up a loose end. Do we really believe that Fay might telephone the hospital to which her mother is temporarily confined, get straight through to her doctor, leave a message, have that message delivered and then receive a letter from her mother concerning said message - all within the space of 3 days!? No we don't.
So, what did I think of it? Well it was an okay read, but it is a rare writer indeed that manages to combine true and strong story-telling skills with excellent use of prose - and I fear Ms Hore is not a rare writer. It isn't that it's bad - it's just not good. The story has been told so many times before, and whilst it's a story that bears repeating, there were too many occasions when it felt derivative, though I couldn't quite put my finger on where I'd read it before. Her writing style is also okay - but, again, not great. The words don't flow - and neither the story nor the prose invited me to 'carry on, carry on, carry on ... must find out what happens next'.
I chose this book because I wanted a light, easy read. I knew nothing about the novel or the author, it had received some good notices and seemed to fit the bill. To be fair, it did. It is light, it is easy, but it didn't inspire me to explore Ms Hore's -back catalogue - surely one of the best tests?
Once again this was an occasion when I longed for a more sensitive star rating - when will Goodreads do something about this? It seems churlish to give it two stars - and over generous to give it three - in an ideal world it would be 2.75.
November 3, 2016
This was a quick read, but I found myself rather bored with it early on. I think this is probably one of the weakest books by Rachel Hore. I was rather unimpressed with it, and I just wanted it to be done and over with. I think her heroines were rather weak, damsels in distress types, and I just CANNOT identify with that at all.
August 5, 2016
This is a story of love and loss and war. Fay Knox and her mother Kitty have memories of Paris where Kitty met and fell in love with Fay’s dad during the 1940’s. Fay’s mother Kitty, will not talk about her early years in Paris and Fay has cloudy memories. As Fay tries to uncover some of the things her mother is keeping hidden the story goes back and forth between past and present and Fay may not like what she finds. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
August 23, 2016
This book seemed very old-school, reminiscence of Mary Stewart's style. For some that would be a positive, but it just felt out-of-step to me. I'm no longer that young girl that read these type of books with thrall, and it difficult to believe that people were truly that naïve and innocence -- which made the characters seem one dimensional.
For lack of a better analogy --it would be like trying to watch a episode of Father Knows Best or Leave It To Beaver. . .
I did receive a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for a review.
For lack of a better analogy --it would be like trying to watch a episode of Father Knows Best or Leave It To Beaver. . .
I did receive a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for a review.
July 2, 2019
Ik ben wel fan van de boeken van Rachel Hore. Dit is het 5de boek dat ik van haar las. En ik denk dat ik dit wel verkies als beste van de 6 die ik gelezen heb. (Ik heb er ondertussen nog eentje uitgelezen)
Ik kon me helemaal inleven in het verhaal en heb het zeer vlot uitgelezen. Echt wel een aanrader.
#3wordresume
Ik kon me helemaal inleven in het verhaal en heb het zeer vlot uitgelezen. Echt wel een aanrader.
#3wordresume
May 20, 2024
Would be a 9/10. Really enjoyed this book set mainly in Paris before and during the occupation of WW2.
December 14, 2024
I heard the audiobook on libby.
What a beautiful story set in Paris.
This is a daughter's journey to Partis, where she discovers her roots and what her mother has been hiding. Fay has flashbacks of her time in Paris, but is unable to piece it together herself.
Based during the war time, I loved how the author has gone back and forth showcasing Kitty's life and that of her daughter Fay Knoxx and several other characters on this journey.
If you love Historical fiction, this one is for you.
What a beautiful story set in Paris.
This is a daughter's journey to Partis, where she discovers her roots and what her mother has been hiding. Fay has flashbacks of her time in Paris, but is unable to piece it together herself.
Based during the war time, I loved how the author has gone back and forth showcasing Kitty's life and that of her daughter Fay Knoxx and several other characters on this journey.
If you love Historical fiction, this one is for you.
July 10, 2018
Beautifully written, shifting between 1961 and WWII, this novel really drew me in. An unusual perspective of Paris during the war and likeable characters. Recommended.
August 10, 2017
'The City of Lights hides a dark past…’
A Week in Paris is a novel by Rachel Hore originally published in 2014.
Described as ‘a riveting tale of love, war and music that follows two women decades apart, who are connected by a shocking secret’, I was delighted to receive a copy from the wonderful TripFiction to review on their behalf.
Please so continue reading for my thoughts….
A Week in Paris is a book that transports the reader from Paris, during the terrifying years of the German invasion during the Second World War, through to a time, twenty-five years later, when Parisians were again enjoying the beauty of the City of Light.
Fay Knox, a young girl, goes on a school trip to Paris, a city she was sure she had never travelled to before. While with her friends in Notre Dame cathedral, she suddenly has a strange experience, but is quick to shake it off as tiredness from all the excitement.
Fay was always lead to believe that her father, Eugene Knox, had died during an air raid on their home in London during the war. This devastation had also destroyed all their possessions, leaving Fay and her mother, Kitty, with only the clothes on their back. They then moved to Primrose cottage in a small Norfolk village. There are times that Fay notices something is amiss with her mother, but Kitty is always quick to dismiss it and reassures Fay that all is well. But as the years go by, Kitty’s mental health suffers more noticeably and she has to be hospitalised for periods of time.
It is during one of these episodes that Fay, now in her early twenties, informs her mother of her impending trip to Paris with her orchestra. Kitty, on hearing this news, gets quite flustered and passes on a piece of information that changes everything for Fay.
As readers we are swept back in time to the pre-war years of Paris. It’s 1937 and a young woman, Kitty Travers, arrives fresh faced, with ambition, to study as a concert pianist and to make her mark as a musician. But for Kitty, she soon finds herself caught up in a very different world than she expected….
Kitty boards with a convent in the vicinity of Notre Dame. She walks on the banks of the Seine, absorbing the Parisian way. She admires the women, the fashion, the boulevards, the way of life….the Joie de Vivre… but unbeknownst to Kitty, she too is being admired. Eugene Knox is an American doctor working and living in Paris. He immediately is entranced by Kitty and it is not long before the magic of Paris seeps into their very souls. Kitty and Eugene fall in love, get married and start a new life for themselves, happy to be living in such a vibrant and passionate city.
Rachel Hore exposes both the beauty and horrors of Paris through the years in A Week in Paris.
We are immersed in the elegance and allure of this famed city for lovers. We long to be sitting in a cafe overlooking Notre Dame or strolling along the Champs-Élysées, passing enviable glances at the fashionable women adorned in the Haute Couture of the time. Like Kitty and Fay, we imagine Paris through the glow of rose-tinted glasses.
But as the war machine trundled on, Paris was soon a city under siege. Buildings were boarded up. Inhabitants were forced to wear the yellow star denoting their Jewish faith. Gunshots and the distant patter of rushing steps soon replaced the music in the bars.
The story of Kitty Travers unravels as you turn the pages. As Fay delves deeper into her mother’s past, secrets long hidden are exposed.
Kitty and Eugene’s story is one of heartbreak and of bravery. Paris and the fear of it’s citizens, is conveyed with such vividness, that as a reader you are transported to a very different time, to a city where darkness followed light and where fear replaced joy.
A Week in Paris is more that just a story of one family. It is a story of lost innocence, a story of suffering and despair, a story of love and hope but ultimately a story of Paris.
A Week in Paris is a novel by Rachel Hore originally published in 2014.
Described as ‘a riveting tale of love, war and music that follows two women decades apart, who are connected by a shocking secret’, I was delighted to receive a copy from the wonderful TripFiction to review on their behalf.
Please so continue reading for my thoughts….
A Week in Paris is a book that transports the reader from Paris, during the terrifying years of the German invasion during the Second World War, through to a time, twenty-five years later, when Parisians were again enjoying the beauty of the City of Light.
Fay Knox, a young girl, goes on a school trip to Paris, a city she was sure she had never travelled to before. While with her friends in Notre Dame cathedral, she suddenly has a strange experience, but is quick to shake it off as tiredness from all the excitement.
Fay was always lead to believe that her father, Eugene Knox, had died during an air raid on their home in London during the war. This devastation had also destroyed all their possessions, leaving Fay and her mother, Kitty, with only the clothes on their back. They then moved to Primrose cottage in a small Norfolk village. There are times that Fay notices something is amiss with her mother, but Kitty is always quick to dismiss it and reassures Fay that all is well. But as the years go by, Kitty’s mental health suffers more noticeably and she has to be hospitalised for periods of time.
It is during one of these episodes that Fay, now in her early twenties, informs her mother of her impending trip to Paris with her orchestra. Kitty, on hearing this news, gets quite flustered and passes on a piece of information that changes everything for Fay.
As readers we are swept back in time to the pre-war years of Paris. It’s 1937 and a young woman, Kitty Travers, arrives fresh faced, with ambition, to study as a concert pianist and to make her mark as a musician. But for Kitty, she soon finds herself caught up in a very different world than she expected….
Kitty boards with a convent in the vicinity of Notre Dame. She walks on the banks of the Seine, absorbing the Parisian way. She admires the women, the fashion, the boulevards, the way of life….the Joie de Vivre… but unbeknownst to Kitty, she too is being admired. Eugene Knox is an American doctor working and living in Paris. He immediately is entranced by Kitty and it is not long before the magic of Paris seeps into their very souls. Kitty and Eugene fall in love, get married and start a new life for themselves, happy to be living in such a vibrant and passionate city.
Rachel Hore exposes both the beauty and horrors of Paris through the years in A Week in Paris.
We are immersed in the elegance and allure of this famed city for lovers. We long to be sitting in a cafe overlooking Notre Dame or strolling along the Champs-Élysées, passing enviable glances at the fashionable women adorned in the Haute Couture of the time. Like Kitty and Fay, we imagine Paris through the glow of rose-tinted glasses.
But as the war machine trundled on, Paris was soon a city under siege. Buildings were boarded up. Inhabitants were forced to wear the yellow star denoting their Jewish faith. Gunshots and the distant patter of rushing steps soon replaced the music in the bars.
The story of Kitty Travers unravels as you turn the pages. As Fay delves deeper into her mother’s past, secrets long hidden are exposed.
Kitty and Eugene’s story is one of heartbreak and of bravery. Paris and the fear of it’s citizens, is conveyed with such vividness, that as a reader you are transported to a very different time, to a city where darkness followed light and where fear replaced joy.
A Week in Paris is more that just a story of one family. It is a story of lost innocence, a story of suffering and despair, a story of love and hope but ultimately a story of Paris.
June 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this interesting well documented book. I learnt quite a bit about the French town Vittel during the Occupation, and how the Germans used its camp primarily to house British and American citizens residing in France.
The story is quite good too and although I am not too fond of novels in which the author uses a lot of flashbacks, in this case, they are useful. It kept me really interested all along and I read it very fast, which is always a good sign.
I am giving it five stars in spite of what follows:
I listened to the audiobook, and I must say that the reader, who is quite good at what she is doing, really got on my nerves because the way she constantly mispronounces some ultra simple words, like Monsieur, among others.
I don’t expect anyone to actually speak fluent French, but simple basic words could be rehearsed before starting the reading, and make it more fluid.
In other words, choose the book or the ebook rather than the audiobook.
The story is quite good too and although I am not too fond of novels in which the author uses a lot of flashbacks, in this case, they are useful. It kept me really interested all along and I read it very fast, which is always a good sign.
I am giving it five stars in spite of what follows:
I listened to the audiobook, and I must say that the reader, who is quite good at what she is doing, really got on my nerves because the way she constantly mispronounces some ultra simple words, like Monsieur, among others.
I don’t expect anyone to actually speak fluent French, but simple basic words could be rehearsed before starting the reading, and make it more fluid.
In other words, choose the book or the ebook rather than the audiobook.
October 29, 2014
The story of love, loss and wartime memories are nicely portrayed in this historical narrative which tells the story of Fay Knox and her mother Kitty, both of whom have long buried memories of Paris. Kitty was a naive young woman when she went to Paris in the 1940s to study music, whilst there she met and fell in love with Eugene Knox, a young American doctor and together they made a life with their baby daughter, Fay. Twenty years later, Fay appears to have some shadowy memories of Paris but her mother has never been willing to explain anything to her about her early years. Returning to Paris in 1961, Fay attempts to uncover some of her mother’s long buried secrets, with surprising results.
What then follows is a nicely written historical dual time story which takes the reader between two very different time frames and between two very different young women whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the events of the Second World War.
The starkness and imminent danger of occupied Paris is particularly well done. I enjoyed the way the story conjured up the atmosphere of living during a time of great unrest and it is obvious that the author has researched the period well and writes with some authority. The 1960s time frame had a charm all of its own and I enjoyed seeing Fay blossom from a rather naive ingénue, into a more confident and assured young woman. The overwhelming theme of the novel is about memory and the ties that bind us together and that fact that shared memories also have the power to both hurt us and protect us.
Whilst I don’t think this is the strongest of Rachel Hore’s books, I did enjoy the story and am sure that most of her fans will enjoy it too.
What then follows is a nicely written historical dual time story which takes the reader between two very different time frames and between two very different young women whose lives have been irrevocably changed by the events of the Second World War.
The starkness and imminent danger of occupied Paris is particularly well done. I enjoyed the way the story conjured up the atmosphere of living during a time of great unrest and it is obvious that the author has researched the period well and writes with some authority. The 1960s time frame had a charm all of its own and I enjoyed seeing Fay blossom from a rather naive ingénue, into a more confident and assured young woman. The overwhelming theme of the novel is about memory and the ties that bind us together and that fact that shared memories also have the power to both hurt us and protect us.
Whilst I don’t think this is the strongest of Rachel Hore’s books, I did enjoy the story and am sure that most of her fans will enjoy it too.
July 29, 2017
A Week in Paris by Rachel Hore is a dual timeline novel. One thread of the story is set in 1961 and follows music student Fay Knox who is in Paris for a week with her orchestra. Fay has grown up knowing very little about her early childhood as her mother refuses to talk about it or to tell her what happened to her father, other than that he was killed during the war. However, when memories start coming back to her, she has reason to believe that the first years of her life may have been spent in France. Over the course of her week in Paris, Fay decides to find out the truth about her past – and is shocked by what she discovers. Meanwhile, she is reacquainted with an old friend, Adam, but could he also be hiding secrets?
The other storyline is written from the perspective of Fay’s mother, Kitty, who falls in love with Gene, an American doctor, during World War II. The two end up trapped in occupied Paris – and their actions during this period will have consequences that live on into the next generation.
I found this an enjoyable novel, after a slow start, though not as good as similar books by other authors such as Lucinda Riley or Susanna Kearsley. The 1940s storyline is much more engaging than the 1960s one, not just because of the drama of the war itself, but also because the romance between Kitty and Gene is more convincing than the one between Fay and Adam (and less reliant on coincidence and chance meetings). I really cared about what happened to the wartime characters and was gripped by the details of life in a city under Nazi occupation, but I wouldn’t have minded if the framing story involving Fay had been left out altogether.
This is the first Rachel Hore book I've read and although I had a few problems with it, I would definitely read more!
The other storyline is written from the perspective of Fay’s mother, Kitty, who falls in love with Gene, an American doctor, during World War II. The two end up trapped in occupied Paris – and their actions during this period will have consequences that live on into the next generation.
I found this an enjoyable novel, after a slow start, though not as good as similar books by other authors such as Lucinda Riley or Susanna Kearsley. The 1940s storyline is much more engaging than the 1960s one, not just because of the drama of the war itself, but also because the romance between Kitty and Gene is more convincing than the one between Fay and Adam (and less reliant on coincidence and chance meetings). I really cared about what happened to the wartime characters and was gripped by the details of life in a city under Nazi occupation, but I wouldn’t have minded if the framing story involving Fay had been left out altogether.
This is the first Rachel Hore book I've read and although I had a few problems with it, I would definitely read more!
December 8, 2014
This book had a storyline with a lot of interesting angles and opportunities (especially as Paris can be both a dramatic and romantic setting – both Nazi-occupied Paris and post-war Paris)but that didn’t live up to the potential. Despite the setting, and the events that took place, I never really felt the threat of danger for Kitty and Gene. The drama and the characters all felt distant, created only on the surface. Kitty in particular was vapid and somewhat annoying. But the novel probably could have done with having more of her perspective during the ‘Fay era’ to voice her motivations and why she felt the sudden need to half-heartedly attempt suicide by pill overdose. I found the ‘storytelling sessions’ by Nathalie Ramond / Sister Therese – as a mechanism to provide Fay with every detail of her parents’ marriage and her early life in Paris – implausible. So unfortunately this was another average book from Rachel Hore (like “The Silent Tide” and “The Dream House”). I really want to pick up another gem from her which I can enjoy as much as “A Place of Secrets” and “A Gathering Storm”, and hope she produces another worthy book soon.
May 28, 2017
The title ' A Week in Paris' sounds like a read that would draw you in completely for the title, but I have to say it was a little disappointing and I felt a little too long and a bit flat. Two characters, Kitty, who enrols in the Conservatoire, 1937 to hopefully become a concert pianist. War breaks out and she finds herself torn whether to stay with her husband or take her and her child back home to England. She stays. Fay, 25 years later, doesn't have many memories of her childhood and now playing in a orchestra herself, is performing in Paris. Ideal opportunity to find out more of what happened when she was living there with her mother. Circumstances from home push her to find out more with some secrets uncovered that her mother has never told her about....why? She manages to trace the past and discovers truths.
There was a lot of historical references to what went on in Paris during this time which I found quite interesting, but at times the story was a little flat and I felt I wanted more, but not quite sure what.
There was a lot of historical references to what went on in Paris during this time which I found quite interesting, but at times the story was a little flat and I felt I wanted more, but not quite sure what.
August 20, 2018
A good story, but there was a lot about Fay's memories of her early years in Paris. As in younger than 3. It's just ridiculous to suppose that she has memories of that early in her life. So the whole thing seemed false to me. Also, the modern story, of Fay and Adam was just flat and boring.
January 7, 2015
A really enjoyable read - review to follow
September 2, 2014
Didn't love this as much as her other books - will think about it before reviewing
February 5, 2015
hmmmm, not my favouritist. A good idea & a genre I enjoy reading, but the writing wasn't the best.
October 22, 2014
Just when you think what else could possibly be written about World War Two along comes Rachel Hore with her new novel A Week in Paris. A fascinating, gripping, intriguing tale that kept me turning the pages as quick as possible keen to discover the mystery surrounding Kitty and Fay. Rachel Hore is amongst one of my favourite authors and having read all her previous releases I have been waiting impatiently for her new book and thankfully after such high expectations Rachel once again delivers another stunning unputdownable novel. There is something for everyone here romance, mystery, history and a strong plotline that will keep fans happy but will also create plenty of new readers for Rachel.
A Week in Paris opens with a brief glimpse of a five year old girl in an orphanage in Norfolk, England. Who is she and why is she there? Next we meet the main characters Kitty and Fay Knox. Fay is a teenager on a school trip to Paris when in Notre Dame Cathedral she experiences an uneasy feeling that leaves her shaken. She feels she has been here before but as far as she knows she has never previously travelled to Paris. What is going on and why does Fay feel her mother – Kitty, has not told her the truth about her past? Fast forward a number of years to England, Kitty now a music teacher goes about her daily life having raised Fay on her own after the death of her father Eugene in wartime Paris. Kitty has tried her best to raise Fay supplementing her income giving piano lessons. But Kitty hides a deep, dark secret that if exposed will turn the Knox’s entire world upside down.
Unable to cope with the years of pressure and secrecy Kitty has a nervous breakdown and is placed in a home in an attempt to overcome her issues. Fay herself is now a musician and due to go on tour with her orchestra to Paris for a week. Upon hearing this Kitty tells Fay of an old rucksack which when opened Fay discovers an old dress and a torn card with the name of a convent in Paris written on it. And so begins a journey of discovery for Fay. What happened in wartime Paris that Kitty has kept so close to her chest for over twenty years?
I love novels which have an historical element and that go forward and back between the past and present. In this book the time gap is not as big as in other novels I have read. It is only twenty years since the war has ended when Fay reaches Paris and struggles to find out what the significance of the convent is. I liked this fact because it made the reader realise that although the war may have been fought and won, years later the effects were still being felt in Paris. The first section of the novel was a bit slow setting the scene but after Fay discovers the rucksack the action really picks up and never stops until we reach the final page. Soon the story is being told from two viewpoints - Fay as she plays for the orchestra and discovers the secret and Kitty as she lived in wartime Paris with her American husband Eugene.
The author has clearly done lots of research into Paris after it was invaded by the Germans and I don’t think I have ever read a book from this viewpoint before and to be honest it was a fascinating if at times hard read to discover what the people had to endure. The convent plays a key role in this novel for many reasons which I won’t go into as it would really give too much away but I felt it was the perfect setting for a lot of the story to take place. Through such rich, detailed descriptions I felt I was both Kitty and Fay as they experienced Paris at such different times in the history of the city. Having never been to Paris the author did such a good job of explaining everything I had a strong, clear picture in my head of the daily grind and hardships Kitty was going through during the war. We have all learnt in history lessons about World War Two but to read of events from the characters viewpoint fresh in their eyes as they learn and deal with events for the first time was really interesting. We know the horrors of the concentration camps yet Kitty and her friends read about it in the paper, they don’t act blasé yet they have no idea of the true horrors taking place miles away whilst they are in Paris. I did find the scene where Kitty attempts to get out of Paris on the train hard to read, it was really well written but upsetting yet I know this was the reality of the time. This is a novel of mystery, secrets and memories.
Memories are key to the story and help Fay in her quest to find out what exactly did happen in Paris that has left Kitty so traumatised. Kitty meets Adam (an old school friend) who helps her trace the past, you can tell a bit of romance starts to creep in here but I felt this wasn’t the most important element of the story and I wasn’t that bothered about what happened between the pair as the mystery held me firmly in its grip. The mysterious Madame Ramond (wife of piano player Serge) is a key player in the story and I was just as eager as Fay to hear her recount her story. Fay doesn’t know who she really is but I admit to figuring this out pretty early on but nonetheless I kept reading keen to find out how her role developed.
A Week in Paris is a novel where the past is clearly making itself felt in the present and if this hadn’t been the case, Fay may never have discovered the amazing, heroic, compassionate tale of her parents time in Paris. This book had a superb cast of characters who each had their own role to play and I can say they served that purpose well. One minor gripe was I felt the ending was dragged out a bit too much, there seemed to have been a natural conclusion yet the story continued on for a few more chapters in order to relate back to the prologue, this didn’t distract from my enjoyment of the novel but a page or two would have sufficed.
If historical fiction with a mysterious tale is your kind of read then you won’t be disappointed, Rachel Hore has written another wonderful, skillful, satisfying read with characters that have stayed with me for several days. Let’s hope it is not as long before her next release.
A Week in Paris opens with a brief glimpse of a five year old girl in an orphanage in Norfolk, England. Who is she and why is she there? Next we meet the main characters Kitty and Fay Knox. Fay is a teenager on a school trip to Paris when in Notre Dame Cathedral she experiences an uneasy feeling that leaves her shaken. She feels she has been here before but as far as she knows she has never previously travelled to Paris. What is going on and why does Fay feel her mother – Kitty, has not told her the truth about her past? Fast forward a number of years to England, Kitty now a music teacher goes about her daily life having raised Fay on her own after the death of her father Eugene in wartime Paris. Kitty has tried her best to raise Fay supplementing her income giving piano lessons. But Kitty hides a deep, dark secret that if exposed will turn the Knox’s entire world upside down.
Unable to cope with the years of pressure and secrecy Kitty has a nervous breakdown and is placed in a home in an attempt to overcome her issues. Fay herself is now a musician and due to go on tour with her orchestra to Paris for a week. Upon hearing this Kitty tells Fay of an old rucksack which when opened Fay discovers an old dress and a torn card with the name of a convent in Paris written on it. And so begins a journey of discovery for Fay. What happened in wartime Paris that Kitty has kept so close to her chest for over twenty years?
I love novels which have an historical element and that go forward and back between the past and present. In this book the time gap is not as big as in other novels I have read. It is only twenty years since the war has ended when Fay reaches Paris and struggles to find out what the significance of the convent is. I liked this fact because it made the reader realise that although the war may have been fought and won, years later the effects were still being felt in Paris. The first section of the novel was a bit slow setting the scene but after Fay discovers the rucksack the action really picks up and never stops until we reach the final page. Soon the story is being told from two viewpoints - Fay as she plays for the orchestra and discovers the secret and Kitty as she lived in wartime Paris with her American husband Eugene.
The author has clearly done lots of research into Paris after it was invaded by the Germans and I don’t think I have ever read a book from this viewpoint before and to be honest it was a fascinating if at times hard read to discover what the people had to endure. The convent plays a key role in this novel for many reasons which I won’t go into as it would really give too much away but I felt it was the perfect setting for a lot of the story to take place. Through such rich, detailed descriptions I felt I was both Kitty and Fay as they experienced Paris at such different times in the history of the city. Having never been to Paris the author did such a good job of explaining everything I had a strong, clear picture in my head of the daily grind and hardships Kitty was going through during the war. We have all learnt in history lessons about World War Two but to read of events from the characters viewpoint fresh in their eyes as they learn and deal with events for the first time was really interesting. We know the horrors of the concentration camps yet Kitty and her friends read about it in the paper, they don’t act blasé yet they have no idea of the true horrors taking place miles away whilst they are in Paris. I did find the scene where Kitty attempts to get out of Paris on the train hard to read, it was really well written but upsetting yet I know this was the reality of the time. This is a novel of mystery, secrets and memories.
Memories are key to the story and help Fay in her quest to find out what exactly did happen in Paris that has left Kitty so traumatised. Kitty meets Adam (an old school friend) who helps her trace the past, you can tell a bit of romance starts to creep in here but I felt this wasn’t the most important element of the story and I wasn’t that bothered about what happened between the pair as the mystery held me firmly in its grip. The mysterious Madame Ramond (wife of piano player Serge) is a key player in the story and I was just as eager as Fay to hear her recount her story. Fay doesn’t know who she really is but I admit to figuring this out pretty early on but nonetheless I kept reading keen to find out how her role developed.
A Week in Paris is a novel where the past is clearly making itself felt in the present and if this hadn’t been the case, Fay may never have discovered the amazing, heroic, compassionate tale of her parents time in Paris. This book had a superb cast of characters who each had their own role to play and I can say they served that purpose well. One minor gripe was I felt the ending was dragged out a bit too much, there seemed to have been a natural conclusion yet the story continued on for a few more chapters in order to relate back to the prologue, this didn’t distract from my enjoyment of the novel but a page or two would have sufficed.
If historical fiction with a mysterious tale is your kind of read then you won’t be disappointed, Rachel Hore has written another wonderful, skillful, satisfying read with characters that have stayed with me for several days. Let’s hope it is not as long before her next release.
April 8, 2020
Alright so. This book was good and it is absolutely not its fault that I’ve decided to pick up HP at the same time.
It’s about Paris. It’s about the war. It’s about love. It’s got the recipe to be my perfect reading and yet... it’s a bit of a mingle mangle, the pace slows when it’s supposed to fasten and I feel like I haven’t really gotten to know neither Fay nor Kitty.
Besides these remarks, it was a nice reading and I’m a lover of words so the writer definitely deserves all the stars for the accurate, chiselled writing.
perhaps I was too taken with the Prisoner of Azkaban to truly appreciate the plot, but it felt like the matter could have been treated slightly better. I’m torn.
But I’m also a nice person so let’s go with 4 stars and end my useless flow of consciousness🤣
It’s about Paris. It’s about the war. It’s about love. It’s got the recipe to be my perfect reading and yet... it’s a bit of a mingle mangle, the pace slows when it’s supposed to fasten and I feel like I haven’t really gotten to know neither Fay nor Kitty.
Besides these remarks, it was a nice reading and I’m a lover of words so the writer definitely deserves all the stars for the accurate, chiselled writing.
perhaps I was too taken with the Prisoner of Azkaban to truly appreciate the plot, but it felt like the matter could have been treated slightly better. I’m torn.
But I’m also a nice person so let’s go with 4 stars and end my useless flow of consciousness🤣
September 6, 2022
This was a re read for me love Rachel Hore and she wrote such a beautiful story of hidden secrets love war and music. A story of a mother and daughter who visit Paris as young women experience life changing experiences.Kitty the Mother visits just before the outbreak of war to study music and meets a young American doctor Eugene Knox they make a life together and have a daughter Fay. War comes and their lives are turned upside down.
Twenty years later its Fay who returns to Paris to study music and discover secrets from her past and her mothers. This beautifully written story becomes dual periods that of the mother's story and the daughter's but both linked by events that happened during the war would highly recommend this book.
Twenty years later its Fay who returns to Paris to study music and discover secrets from her past and her mothers. This beautifully written story becomes dual periods that of the mother's story and the daughter's but both linked by events that happened during the war would highly recommend this book.
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